How to package a recurve for shipping?

chipshot · 01-05-2002, 02:22 PM

I am trying to figure out how to package a recurve for shipping. I'm selling two of my bows on e-bay and it looks like one is definately going to sell. Are there any types of boxes or tubes out there that I can buy to help protect the bow when shipping it? Any special bubble wrapping techniques I should know about in order to protect the tips. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I want to make sure it gets delivered in one piece. By the way, both bows are one piece recurves.

Thanks for your help.

Chip

Broker · 01-05-2002, 02:41 PM

I just sold two curves on e-bay. Went to local pro shop & got 4 compound boxes, two that would slide in the other two (made one long box out of two shorter ones). Wrapped & padded the bows with newspaper, then stuffed unused space in the boxes with wadded newspaper. Seemed to work real well, they arrived by UPS undamaged anyway. This is with bow unstrung, of course.
Regards,
Darrel

Lilhunter · 01-05-2002, 02:58 PM

make sure you wrap the tips! Unfortunatly I have a great bow but it now has a small dent in both of the tips. Guy wrapped it and put it in a pvc tube, longbow of course. For a curve you could call some of the local bowshops. They usually have recurves and they come in handy dandy boxes. Fill them up with news paper like Broker said...and put something on the tips <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>!

Cliff_N_Di · 01-05-2002, 03:05 PM

The heavier the carboard is the better off you are. I needed some boxes for shipping some stuff once.I went and looked behind my local strip mall and found lots of big heavy duty boxes that they were going to throw away.
Newspaper does work ok, but it tends to smash to easy, i'd use some of those foam peanuts..or buy some bubble wrap at the store.

Dianna

LBR · 01-05-2002, 03:42 PM

Newspaper works--I've gotten a bunch from Canada wrapped in newspaper, and they made it here fine. put extra heavy layers on contact points--tips, riser, etc.--and fill the void with loosely wadded up paper. Bubble wrap works too, but costs more.

Chad

Wahya · 01-05-2002, 06:57 PM

When I sold my old widow on ebay, I went to Mail boxes etc. and bought 2 boxes and fit them together. They were large enough to wrap the tips with bubble wrap and then the entire bow the same (double wrapping tips). I then placed some peanuts in for the bow to lay on and then filled it up with peanuts. I never ship UPS if I can help it. USPS priority with insurance and a delivery confirmation is the only way I ship and so far, knock on wood, no damaged bows and only one old plate got there cracked and insurance was paid right away.

Gar-Shooter · 01-07-2002, 02:46 PM

I have bought and sold several using the triangle shaped priority mail boxes that the postal service provides to send rolled up documents. They seem to be pretty stiff and tough. I wrap the recurve in bubble wrap and piece two or three of the boxes together to make the length. I reinforce the boxes with mailing tape. This seems to work great. You have to send the bows priority mail because of the boxes. The boxes are free at your local post office.

Gar

chipshot · 01-11-2002, 05:15 AM

I just wanted to update you on my quest for the perfect shipping container for my one piece recurves. It turns out Fedex makes a triangle tube similar to the one Gar was referring to. The only problem was it was a little too tight and much too short for my 66" and 58" recurves. So I went over to an office furniture shop and picked up several 3'x6' scrap cardboard. Using the Fedex tube as a pattern guide, I creased the sheets of cardboard lengthwise in four equal sections, bent it at the creases into a triangle configuration and glued the two outside sections together with some Elmers glue. Now I have a very strong triangle tube that will allow me to bubble wrap the riser and tips and pack lots of newspaper or peanuts all around it. I'll just cap the ends with two triangular scraps of cardboard that I'll glue up and tape. I just wanted to update you on my attempt to get these awkward items properly shipped. I appreciate all your comments and help with this matter.

Chip

stealthycat · 01-11-2002, 06:35 AM

INSURE ALL ITEMS !!! I have sold a few things on EBAY and its worth the extra $$ to insure you and the buyer !